Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Biscuits manager Brady Williams called over the right-handed reliever before batting practice Monday afternoon and shared some unsettling news.

"He sat me down and said, 'Matt, you've been traded to the Marlins,'" Ramsey said. "I thought he was joking at first."

Williams wasn't.

The Tampa Bay Rays dealt Ramsey to the Marlins in exchange for the ability to spend more in international bonuses. They'll add three of Miami's international bonus slots, which are worth just more than $1 million.

"Good for him and I hate to see him go. I really do," Williams said. "He's come a long way this year, both personality-wise and what he's done on the field.

"A lot of good things have happened for him."

Ramsey had a 1.07 ERA in 24 appearances this year, his first in Double-A. His 332/3 innings have included just 16 hits with 23 walks and 46 strikeouts.

"I've been really happy with how the season has gone," Ramsey said.

Ramsey is in his third professional season.

The 23-year-old signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2011 from the University of Tennessee and has risen quickly through the Tampa Bay system.

The Rays sent him to the Arizona Fall League last year and he had a 2.08 ERA in nine appearances.

"I know everybody is happy for him and this is obviously a great opportunity for him," said Biscuits catcher Luke Maile, also a teammate of Ramsey's last year and a former foe at the University of Kentucky.

"With the way he does things, I know he's going to do great."

The Rays are still facing severe limits on their international budget the next two seasons after a signing Monday. Dominican shortstop Adrian Rondon, on his 16th birthday, signed for $2.95 million.

The Rays had a Major League Baseball-assigned limit of $2 million for international signings before the trade. Even with the additional $1 million from the Ramsey trade, according to the Tampa Bay Times, the team will have to pay a penalty and won't be able to sign an international player for more than $300,000 the next two years.